Photographer's Note

Here's my second post of Carnival in Lazarim, which is considered one of the most authntic ones in Portugal. Here, on Tuesday, the "caretos" (people wearing a mask like this one and also costumes) come to the street to show their originality. These masks are sculpted on alder wood, by a few artisans in the village. It takes many hours to do a mask like this one. Each participant has a new mask every year because there is a contest for the best masks and also for the best "caretos". The masks may have horns, moustache, snakes...

There are several villages in the north of Portugal and also in Spain where these celebrations with masks take place. According to some studies, they have their origins in the Celtic cults and they are closely related to the winter solstice and also to fertility.

A very well taken shot.
It was a good decision to crop the figures so tight, it brings them close to the viewers. The eyes of the focal mask are right on the thirds line and the second focal figure adds a little normality.
I'm not sure I would like the masked person so close!
He is a bit scary!

Great picture of the carnaval festival, Ana. I like the wooden mask, which (compared to your previous post) gets a bit of context here. The man on the left is a very strong presence in the picture. It even becomes like a twin portrait. A different dof would have brought more focus on the mask itself and resulted in an entirely different picture.

I'm not sure whether to be frightened or amused?? :) At the very least, I'm impressed...that is truly some fine craftsmanship. Carnivals/festivals are always a fun time and offer a lot of photo opportunity to capture the lively spirit in the air, and you've found some great ones. I particularly like this one for the combination of mask and real life facial expression from the gentleman just behind, there's an immediate connection between the two. A lovely series of pictures, and I hope to see more. Have a great day ahead. All the best.

This is truly an amazing cultural shot of the masked man. I love the look of the wooden mask as well as the expressions on the face of the man standing behind the masked man and probably emulating the masked man.Very well captured.TFS.